Improved folding ohaie



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JOSEPH HYDE, or TROY, ,NEW Youn. l Letters Patent No. 67,119, dated July 23, 1867; antedated July 18, 1867.

IMPROVED FOLDING CHAIR.

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To ALL ,WHoM ITy MAY coNcnRN;

i p Be it known that I, JOSEPH HYDE, of thecity of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have ,invented a new and improved Folding Chair or Couch; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full,- i clear, and exact descriptionl of the same, reference being hereby had to the accompanying drawings,l which form and make a part of this specification. i Like lettersrepresent and refer to like or corresponding parts. y Figure 1 is a lperspective view of my said impioved chair, showing it in a position favorable for sitting.

Figure 2 shows my said improved chair as it would appear when folded to be packed'for transportation, or when laid aside and not in use. l

Figure 3 is a view ofthe said chair, showing it as it would appear when it is desired to use the same for the purpose of reclining or sleeping.

Figilres 4 and are views showing the manner of constructing my said chair when it is desired to have the ,y bottom madeof cane or other solid substance, substantially as hereinafter described and set forth.

Figure 6 shows the hook which is fastened upon the under side of the seat of the chair for the purposes more fully hereinafter described and set forth. Figure 7 shows the legs or bottom part of my said chair with one leg, or rather both rear legs extend ing farther out than shown in either of the other iiguresain the manner and for the purposesA substantially as hereinafter described and set forth. A l v i y The nature of my said invention and improvements consists` in constructing a chair soth'at it can be used g as a chair, as seen at iig. 1, or as a couch or bed, as seen at iig. 3, or that may be placed at any intermediate position, at the option of the person sitting in the same, substantially as shown in the drawings, and as more fully hereinafter described and set forth. It also consists in constructing a chair for the purposes above described, in such manner that it can be folded o r packed for transportation, or to be put away when not in --use, iu .the manner substantially as herein described and set forth. l p To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention and improvements relate, I will her-e proceed to describe the construction and operation thereof, which is as follows, to wit:

I construct the frame of my said chair of wood, iron, or any other suitable material, and of any size and strength deemedbest. The lower part or legs of the chair are constructed inthe usual manner of constructing camp-stools and other like devices, with the exception ofthe rear legs, which extend farther back 'than usual, for the purpose of supporting the chair when in a reclining position, and to enable the same to be folded in a. more compact manner. The back frame B, arms C, and lower pieces D, a're attachedrto the said legs or lower part, in the manner substantially as seen in the accompanying drawings, and more kfully hereinafter described. The back, arm, and lower pieces of the said frame, as well as the various piecesof the legs, are fastened or hinged together by n aeans of rivets or anysuitable device deemed best for the4 purpose intended. The said back, arm, and lower pieces arehinged directly on to the rounds or cross-pieces E', figs. 1 and 3, that support the upper part of the legs, thereby saving extra mechanical means that have heretofore been used. The said framework of the chair may be strengthened by cross-pieces E to any extentdesired, according to the style o f chair to be made. The back, arm, and lower pieces may be covered with Aany material that will best answer y the purpose required, and may be fastened to the said pieces by any means thought best by the manufacturer.

F, figs. Vl. and 3, is a series of straps made of any desired material, which are fastened at each end to the crosspieces E', thereby preventing the chair from spreading apart 4to any greater distance than that intended by the manufacturer, also making a more rm and strong seat, by resisting part of the pressure that would otherwise K .fall upon the seat or covering A. The said covering A may be fastened in one or more places to the said straps v F, thereby more readily keeping the saine in its proper place and position. 'Thesaid cover A should not be fastened to the said straps within one-third of the length of the seat from the back of the chair,` so that when the chair is in a reclining position there will be a smooth surface and -nota sharp angle, as there wouldbe if the seat-were fastened to the straps close to the back. H, figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5, is the foot-piece attached, for the purpose of resting the feet against when in the act of moving the chair-'from one position to another. It may be of `any size or style to correspond with the chair of which itforms a part, and attached in any manner deemed best. I otherwise construct the seat of my said chair, which is fully shown in the drawings, at A, gs. 5 and 6. The seat A is made solid, and is fastened at one end to the cross-pieceE by a flexible joint made of iron, brass, or other material, and has metallic pieces containing hooks b, or other suitable devices, at the other and opposite end, which may be readily slippcd'off or on the said cross-piece E. The said frame or solid seat in this case accomplishes the same object as the straps F, hercinbefore described and fully shown in the drawings. It also prevents the said legs from closing together when the pressure is on the back of the chair. The said metallic pieces containing hooks are made in substantially the same manner as seen at N, lig. 6, and are constructed with an elongated recess, a, for the purposeof allowing the back of the chair to continuedownward, so as to bring the same on a level with the seat if desired. It is obvious that where the seat is made of cane, wood, or other like inflexible material, it must be made in the manner last above described, otherwise itv could not be folded as hereinafter described and set forth.

A -person sitting in my said improved chair can regulate the position of the same as he may desire without any inconvenience or fear of bodily harm. When it is desiredto fold my said improved chair for transportation or other purposes, the said legs are shut together, the back B bent downward, and the whole pressed together. It will then appear as seen at iig. 2. The operation is the same where the bottom or seat is solid, with the exception that the seat is first detached from the cross-piece E and allowed to drop downward. The whole is' then pressed together substantially as above described and set forth. In this position, as shown at iig. 2, the chairs may be easily packed for transportation, and will not take up as much room as they otherwise would if they did not fold'as above described. I generally construct the rear legs of my said chair as seen at I', fig. 7, so that when the chair is in the position as shown at g. 3, with a. person reclining therein, the said rear legs I will extend backward, and being under the back of thechar, will prevent the same from being overturned, which would be liable to occur when in use were the said legs not so constructed.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and improvements, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The employment of the centre arm-pieces C in combination with the back pieces B B, and with `the lower pieces D D, and each being so arranged and attached as to allow or permit the saigd chair or couch to be folded or unfolded in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have on this 20th day of December, A. D. 1865, hereunto set my hand.

` JOSEPH HYDE.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D. Katten, DUNCAN 'McFARLAND. 

